Evolution of house music: introduction

By: Fabian Kolly


Intro

House is a style of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago, then in other US cities such as Detroit, New York City, Los Angeles and Miami. It then reached Europe before becoming infused in mainstream pop and dance music worldwide since the early to mid-1990s.

House is strongly influenced by elements of soul and funk-infused varieties of disco. House generally mimics disco's percussion, especially the use of a prominent bass drum on every beat, but may feature a prominent synthesizer bassline, electronic drums, electronic effects, funk and pop samples, and reverb- or delay-enhanced vocals.

Musical elements

House is uptempo music for dancing, although by modern dance-music standards it is mid-tempo, generally ranging between 118 and 135 bpm. Tempos were slower in house's early years.

The common element of house is a prominent kick drum on every beat (also known as a four-on-the-floor beat), usually generated by a drum machine or sampler. The kick drum sound is augmented by various kick fills and extended dropouts.

Electronically-generated sounds and samples of recordings from genres such as jazz, blues, disco, funk, soul, synth pop are often added to the foundation of the drum beat and synth bass line. House songs may also include disco, soul-style, or gospel vocals and additional percussion such as tambourine. Many house mixes also include repeating, short, syncopated, staccato chord-loops that are usually composed of 5-7 chords in a 4-beat measure.

Techno and trance, which developed alongside house, share this basic beat infrastructure, but they usually eschew house's live-music-influenced feel and Black or Latin music influences in favor of more synthetic sound-sources and approach.

History

House is a descendant of disco, which blended soul, R&B, funk, with celebratory messages about dancing, love, and sexuality, all underpinned with repetitive arrangements and a steady bass drum beat. Some disco songs incorporated sounds produced with synthesizers and drum machines, and some compositions were entirely electronic.

Origins of the term

The term "house music" may have its origin from a Chicago nightclub called The Warehouse, which existed from 1977 to 1982. The Warehouse was patronized primarily by gay black and Latino men, who came to dance to disco music played by the club's resident DJ, Frankie Knuckles.

Lyrical themes

House also had an influence of relaying political messages to people who were considered to be outcasts of society. It appealed to those who didn't fit into mainstream American society and was especially celebrated by many black males. Frankie Knuckles made a good comparison of house saying it was like "church for people who have fallen from grace" and Marshall Jefferson compared it to "old-time religion in the way that people just get happy and screamin”. Deep house was similar to many of the messages of freedom for the black community. Both house CDs by Joe Smooth, "Promised Land" and Db "I Have a Dream" give similar messages of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech. "Someday" by CeCe Rogers, would move house further into the gospel stream later titled "gospel house". House was also very sexual and had much mystic in it. It went so far as to have an "eroto-mystic delirium". Jamie Principle's "Baby Wants to Ride" begins in a prayer but surprisingly is about a dominatrix who seduces a man to "ride" her through the rest of the song.

The Beatles-Part 2: Beatlemania

By Annika

In March 1963, the Beatles released their first album, Please Please Me, came out and reached number one on the British charts. Their iconic "drop-T" logo also made its debut in 1963. During this year, their popularity grew, and a frenzy called "Beatlemania" spread. Before shows, the Beatles were met by screaming fans. To control them, Police had to use high-pressure water hoses. Even in the British Parliament they had to discuss the problem, because the fans were a big risk to the policemen protecting the Beatles. One witness described it as a "scene similar to a shark-feeding frenzy."

At first, American record companies didn't want to release the Beatles' albums. Private record companies released several singles. Initially, they didn't go over so well. Americans ridiculed the Beatles because of issues with the British royalty and the Beatles' signature "mop-top" hairstyle.

After a news segment on Beatlemania, the demand for Beatles in the US greatly increased, and "I Want to Hold Your Hand" was released in December 1963. But when the Beatles left for their US debut in February 1964, they were nervous about how they would be received. When their plane landed, and estimated three thousand fans came to meet them. Two days later, they gave their first live US television performance, which was viewed by 74 million people... at the time, that was over 40% of the American population! They toured America, and started their international tour in June, and Beatlemania spread even further.

In the summer of 1964, the Beatles starred as themselves in a "mockumentary" called A Hard Day's Night, which was very successful.

A year later, a second movie with the Beatles, Help!, was released. McCartney said "Help! was great but it wasn't our film—we were sort of guest stars. It was fun, but basically, as an idea for a film, it was a bit wrong.

Popular songs by R.E.M.

Losing My Religion

The song was released as the first single from the group's 1991 album "Out of Time".

"Losing My Religion" is based on Peter Buck's mandolin-playing. The song became R.E.M.'s biggest hit in the United States. The single stayed on the chart for 21 weeks.

It was nominated for several Grammy Awards, and won two for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and Best Short Form Music Video.

The music video was nominated in nine categories at the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards. The video won six awards, including Video of the Year, Best Group Video, Breakthrough Video, Best Art Direction, Best Direction, and Best Editing. "Losing My Religion" also ranked first in the music video category of the 1991 Pazz & Jop poll.



Shiny Happy People

The song appeared on their 1991 album "Out of Time" and was released as a single in the same year. It features guest backing vocals by Kate Pierson of the B-52's, who also has a prominent role in the song's music video.

If you want to know more about Kate Pierson and about the B-52's have a look at their official website:
--------> http://theb52s.com/

"Shiny Happy People" became the first R.E.M. song to reach the top ten in the UK and the only one to reach the top ten in both countries. To date, it was the last single to reach the top ten on the chart in the United States.

Other Versions: The band performed it on Sesame Street under the title "Furry Happy Monsters." The female vocal was performed by Stephanie D'Abruzzo. An adaptation was written by Sesame Street writer Christopher Cerf, changing many of the lyrics to fit the context of the scene.

The song has also been covered by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, but without the lyrics.

By Nadine and Corina

Bon Jovi - ... 80s ...

By Shelby

In the mid to late 80s Bon Jovi released 4 albums; Bon Jovi (April 1984), 7800 Fahrenheit (May 1985), Slippery When Wet (September 1986), and New Jersey (September 1988). Their first two albums proved to be big sellers, as they both went gold (500,000 sales). But their big breakthrough album proved to be Slippery When Wet as it went gold and platinum and by the end of the year, had sold over 14 million copies. The hit album was said to be powered by songs such as; "Livin' On A Prayer" and "You Give Love A Bad Name". Then, their next album, New Jersey, proved to be a big hit too. It sold over 7 million copies and included five Top Ten hits; "Bad Medicine" (Number One, 1988), "Born to Be My Baby" (Number Three, 1988), "I'll Be There for You" (Number One, 1989), "Lay Your Hands on Me" (Number Seven, 1989) and "Living in Sin" (Number Nine, 1989). But not only were their albums getting them noticed but they were also opening for bands like; The Scorpions, Kiss and Judas Priest, enhancing their fans base even more because of their powerful stage presence.

Then in 1989, Bon Jovi married his school sweet-heart, Dorothea Hurley, in Las Vegas while on tour.

The Beatles-Part 1: Forming the Band

By Annika

In March 1957, sixteen-year-old John Lennon formed the group “The Quarrymen.” In July, he asked Paul McCartney, then fifteen years old, to join the group. By the end of the year, McCartney was able to convince Lennon to allow George Harrison to join them. In 1958, they changed their name to “Johnny and the Moondogs.” In 1960, a friend of Lennon’s, Stu Sutcliffe, became the band’s bassist. The band changed their name once again, this time to the “Silver Beetles.” A few months later, they dropped “Silver” and changed “Beetles” to “Beatles.” In August 1960, the Beatles auditioned and hired drummer Pete Best, and left for their first tour in Germany. In early 1961, Sutcliffe dropped out of the band, and McCartney switched from rhythm guitar to bass. The band now consists of: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Pete Best. Over the next few years, they performed at clubs and gained popularity in both Germany and England. During one of their appearances at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, they met Brian Epstein, a local record storeowner and music columnist. He was appointed as the band’s manager in January 1962. George Martin signed the group to EMI’s Parlophone label. In June 1962, the Beatles had their first recording session in London. Martin complained about Best’s drumming, so the Beatles replaced him with Ringo Starr. The Beatles as we know them today were complete. In October, the band released their first single, “Love Me Do.”

Bon Jovi - The Beginning ...

By Shelby

From his early teenage years, Jon Bon Jovi was convinced that one day he would be a rock star. Born March 2nd, 1962, Jon grew up in Sayreville, New Jersey with 2 brothers, Matt and Tony. He didn't show much interest in school, but preferred to sing with David Bryan in local bands. His cousin, Tony Bongiovi, owned a record studio where he occasionally let Jon record demos with other musicians. In 1980 Jon had written a song, "Runaway", and was able to record a demo of the song in his cousin's studio. "Runaway" was then included on a local radio's compilation tape where it got serious airplay.

Because of "Runaway"'s big success, Jon realized that if he wanted to go anywhere further with his dreams he would have to get a real band together. This led to the formation of the present Bon Jovi Band which consists of David Bryan on keyboards, Richie Sambora on guitar, Alec John Such on bass, Tico Torres on drums, and Jon Bon Jovi on vocals. Their debut album, Bon Jovi, came out January 21, 1984 an contained songs such as; "Runaway" and "She Don't Know Me".

If you would like to read more on the beginning of the Bon Jovi Band please visit these sites:

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/bon-jovi

http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/bon-jovi-jon-bon-jovi-biography/62b403840443de26482568700029076d

R.E.M.

Mills, Berry, Buck, and Stipe, decided to drop out of college and focus on their band, now named R.E.M. The alternative rock band quickly developed a following and were soon signed to I.R.S. Records. They are all from Georgia, America.



Members

 

Mike Mills, Peter Buck, Michael Stipe

Mike Mills: He is the chief composer behind many of R.E.M.'s songs. He is a multi-instrumentalist.

Peter Buck: He is the guitarist and co-founder of the band.

Michael Stipe: He is the lead singer and the lyricist.

Past member

Bill Berry: He was the drummer of the band until 1997. But he left the band and became a farmer.


Beginning 

Stipe met Buck in 1980. The two became friends and decided to form a band. They started writing music together. The pair were soon joined by Berry and Mills and named themselves R.E.M., a name Stipe selected at random from a dictionary.

First Song

R.E.M. released its first single, "Radio Free Europe", in 1981.

Popular songs

Discography

The discography of R.E.M. consists of fourteen studio albums, two live albums, nine compilation albums, one extended play and sixty-four singles.

Studio albums:

• Murmur (1983)
• Reckoning (1984)
• Fables of the Reconstruction (1985)
• Lifes Rich Pageant (1986)
• Document (1987)
• Green (1988)
• Out of Time (1991)
• Automatic for the People (1992)
• Monster (1994)
• New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996)
• Up (1998)
• Reveal (2001)
• Around the Sun (2004)
• Accelerate (2008)
• Collapse into Now (scheduled for release in 2011) 

The band has sold more than 50 million albums and is amongst best selling artists of all time.


By Nadine and Corina